Evaluation of stress responses in mussel Mytilus coruscus from the largest mussel farming area in China based on the IBR index

The Gouqi Island waters not only host the largest aquaculture area of Mytilus coruscus in China, but also serve as a significant distribution zone for wild M. coruscus resources. However, the survival of these mussels may face potential threats from increasing anthropogenic activities. This study in...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yihang Wang, Yifei Dong, Feiyu Xia, Chaohai Zhao, Yang Yang, Xin Sun, Xiumei Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Aquaculture Reports
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235251342500362X
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Summary:The Gouqi Island waters not only host the largest aquaculture area of Mytilus coruscus in China, but also serve as a significant distribution zone for wild M. coruscus resources. However, the survival of these mussels may face potential threats from increasing anthropogenic activities. This study investigated the physiological responses of eight specific and non-specific biomarkers that indicate the immune, neural, oxidative, and nutritional stress in M. coruscus, and employed the Integrated Biomarker Response (IBR) index to comprehensively evaluate the stress levels under different seasonal and habitat conditions. The results revealed that wild mussels in areas distant from human activities showed low IBR values (IBR = 0.09–0.72). Wild mussels inhabit near coastal residential centers demonstrated elevated IBR values in summer (IBR = 0.75–1.09), with oxidative stress being the predominant type. Farmed mussels in both nearshore and offshore areas maintained relatively low IBR values from spring to autumn (IBR = 0.1–0.67), but showed significant increases in winter (IBR = 0.9–1.07) dominated by both neural and oxidative stress. Notably, mussels in central aquaculture zones reached maximum IBR levels in summer (IBR = 1.34) and winter (IBR = 1.45), with immune and oxidative stress being predominant in summer, and combined neural, oxidative, and nutritional stress in winter. This study identified the seasons and spatial distributions of heightened stress on M. coruscus populations through IBR analysis. The findings provide critical theoretical insights for understanding stress origins in M. coruscus, improving aquaculture health management and enhancing conservation strategies for wild populations.
ISSN:2352-5134